JPH06164756A - Facsimile equipment with voice reply function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To start facsimile communication immediately by closing a telephone number when a ring signal is detected and connecting the telephone line to a facsimile communication means when a facsimile communication start signal is detected from the telephone line. CONSTITUTION:When a ring signal is inputted from a telephone line 1 while an OGM (reply message) is recorded, a detection circuit 3 detects it and outputs it to a control means 10. The means 10 controls an interface circuit 2 to close a telephone line 1. The means 10 controls an OGM transmission circuit 4 to send the OGM to the line 1. When a signal of 1100Hz is inputted for 0.5sec or over to a CNG signal detection circuit 9, the circuit 9 detects it to output a CNG signal detection signal to the means 10. The means 10 starts a timer 11 to count a time of 3.5sec. At the end of count, when a CNG signal (facsimile communication start signal) is inputted from the circuit 9, the means 10 discriminates that the caller is the facsimile equipment to throw a changeover circuit 8 to the position of the facsimile communication circuit 6 so as to be connected to the telephone line 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine with a voice response function which responds to a calling side by voice before facsimile communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile machine having a voice response function has been used. When a ring signal is input from the telephone line, the telephone line is automatically closed, a response message (hereinafter referred to as "OGM") is first transmitted, and then the operation is switched to receive facsimile information.
Alternatively, if the signal input from the telephone line after transmitting the OGM is voice (hereinafter referred to as "ICM"), the operation is switched to recording, and the signal input from the telephone line is the facsimile communication start signal ( Below, "CNG signal"
If it is silent), it will switch to facsimile operation.

A conventional facsimile apparatus with a voice response function as described above will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a conventional facsimile apparatus with a voice response function. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation. In FIG. 5, 1 is a telephone line, 2 is an interface circuit, 3 is a ring signal detection circuit, 4 is an OGM transmission circuit, 5 is an ICM recording circuit, 6 is a facsimile communication circuit, 7 is a voice signal detection circuit, and 8 is A switching circuit, 9 is a CNG signal detection circuit, and 10 is a control means, which is composed of a microcomputer. 11
Is a timer provided in the control means 10.

The operation of the facsimile apparatus with a voice response function configured as described above will be described below.

First, when a ring signal is input from the telephone line 1, the ring signal detection circuit 3 detects it (step 1) and outputs it to the control means 10. The control means 10 controls the interface circuit 2 to close the telephone line 1 (step 2). Next, the control means 10 controls the OGM sending circuit 4 to send OGM to the telephone line 1 (step 3). When the control means 10 detects the end of the OGM transmission (step 4), it controls the ICM recording circuit 5 to record the signal input from the telephone line 1 (step 5) and activates the timer 11 (step 6). ). Here, when the medium on which the OGM is recorded is a tape, a beep sound is recorded at the recording end position of the OGM and the OGM is ended when the beep sound is detected. Alternatively, when the medium is an IC, a method is known in which an address at the end of OGM recording is detected and the OGM is ended at the position of this address, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The control means 10 detects the signal input from the telephone line 1 at the same time as the recording of the ICM by the voice signal detection circuits 7 and C.
When the signal input from the telephone line 1 is voice (step 7), the NG signal detection circuit 9 is monitored, and the ICM is used as it is.
The recording operation is continued (step 8), and when the signal input from the telephone line is the CNG signal (step 9), the control means 10 switches the switching circuit 8 to the facsimile communication circuit 6 (step 10). If neither of the above signals is detected, it is judged whether or not the count of the timer 11 has expired (step 11). If not, the process returns to step 7, and if so, the control means 10 causes the switching circuit 8 to facsimile. Switch to the communication circuit 6 (step 10).

[0008]

However, in the above configuration, when a CNG signal is input from the calling side during OGM transmission, the sneak signal of the OGM is erroneously detected as the CNG signal, and therefore the OGM transmission is performed. However, there is a problem in that the CNG signal cannot be detected and the facsimile communication cannot be performed during the OGM transmission.

In particular, in a facsimile machine, if the time between the caller closing the telephone line and receiving the signal from the receiver is longer than a certain time, the caller is determined by the standard to open the telephone line. However, there is a problem that facsimile communication cannot be performed when the OGM is long.

The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and provides a facsimile apparatus with a voice response function capable of detecting a CNG signal input during OGM transmission and immediately starting facsimile communication. It is provided.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, a facsimile apparatus with a voice response function according to the present invention comprises a ring signal detecting means for detecting a ring signal input from a telephone line and a ring signal detecting means. Interface means for closing a telephone line in response to an output signal, response message sending means for sending a response message after the interface means is closed, and a facsimile communication start signal inputted from the telephone line are detected. When the communication start signal detecting means detects the facsimile communication start signal while the response message sending means is sending the response message, the telephone line is connected to the facsimile communication means. It is composed of a switching circuit to be connected.

[0012]

With this configuration, when the ring signal detecting means detects the ring signal input from the telephone or the line, the interface means closes the telephone line, the response message sending means sends the response message, and the facsimile communication is made from the telephone line. When the start signal is input, the communication start signal detecting means detects it, and the switching circuit connects the telephone line to the facsimile communication means.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a facsimile apparatus with a voice response function according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2
Is a flowchart showing a recording operation, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a response operation, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a waveform of a CNG signal. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 is O for instructing recording of OGM.
A GM recording instruction switch, 13 is a microphone, 14 is a switching circuit for switching the CNG signal detection means to the interface circuit or the microphone side, 15 is a display means, and 16 is an alarm means. The same parts as those in the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The operation of the facsimile apparatus with a voice response function configured as described above will be described below.

First, the CNG signal will be described. Figure 4
As shown in, the CNG signal is 1100 Hz ± 0.5 seconds.
The 38 Hz signal is repeated every 3.5 seconds. Normally, this signal is transmitted until the calling side and the receiving side start facsimile communication, or the calling side described above uses the telephone line 1.
Is continued for a certain period of time until it is released.

Next, the OGM recording operation will be described. O
When the OGM recording is instructed by the GM recording instruction switch 12 (step 12), the control means 10 switches the switching circuit 14 to the microphone 13 side, connects the microphone 13 and the CNG signal detection circuit 9 (step 13), and the OGM sending circuit. 4 is set to a recording state (step 14). The OGM input from the microphone 13 is the OGM transmission circuit 4 and the CNG signal detection circuit 9
And monitors whether the input OGM does not include a CNG signal component. The CNG signal detection circuit 9 is 110
It is composed of a bandpass filter of 0Hz ± 38Hz and a timer circuit. When a signal of 1100Hz ± 38Hz is detected, the timer circuit is activated and 1100Hz ± 38Hz.
It is detected whether the signal of continues for 0.5 seconds. When it continues for 0.5 seconds (step 15), the CNG signal detection circuit 9 outputs the CNG signal detection signal to the control means 10.

When this signal is output to the control means 10 during OGM recording, the timer 11 is operated to start counting time (step 16). Next, when the second signal from the CNG signal detection circuit 9 is input during OGM recording (step 17), the count value of the timer 11 at this time is stored as t1 (step 18), and t1 is 3.5. It is determined whether it is seconds (step 19). When the count value t1 of the timer 11 is not 3.5 seconds, the OGM recording is further continued, and when a signal is output from the CNG signal detection circuit 9, the count value of the timer 11 at this time is stored as t2. (Step 18). And the count value t2
Is 3.5 seconds, and the count value t2-t1 is 3.
It is determined whether it is 5 seconds (step 19). Both are 3.
If it is not 5 seconds, continue recording of OGM and CNG
Each time a signal is output from the signal detection circuit 9, it is determined whether the calculation result of the count value tn of the timer 11 at that time and the count value (t1 to tn-1) of the timer 11 up to that time is 3.5 seconds. (Step 19).

OG without being judged as 3.5 seconds even once
After the recording of M is completed, the user sets the OGM recording instruction switch 1
When 2 is pressed again (step 20), the control means 10 stops the recording state of the OGM transmission circuit 4 and controls the switching circuit 14 to switch the CNG signal detection circuit 9 to the interface circuit 2 side (step 23). Step 19
When the count value tn of the timer 11 or the calculation result of the count value of the timer 11 until then becomes 3.5 seconds during OGM recording, the control means 10 stops the recording operation of the OGM sending circuit 4 (step 21). ), Display means 1
5 or a signal is output to the alarm means 16 to notify that the recording of the OGM is invalid by a visible signal or an audible signal (step 22), and the CNG signal detection circuit 9 is switched to be connected to the interface circuit 2 side. Control the circuit 14. In step 5, once 1100Hz ± 38Hz
OGM recording instruction switch 12 with no signal detected
When is pressed (step 24), the process proceeds to step 23. When the user presses the OGM recording instruction switch 12 again to record the OGM by the invalid display, the OGM recording operation is started in the same manner as described above.

Next, when a ring signal is input from the telephone line 1 while the OGM is recorded, the ring signal detection circuit 3 detects this (step 25) and outputs it to the control means 10. The control means 10 controls the interface circuit 2 to close the telephone line 1 (step 26). Next, the control means 10 controls the OGM transmission circuit 4 to connect the telephone line 1 with the OG.
M is sent out (step 27). At the same time, CNG
The signal detection circuit 9 is made to monitor the signal input from the telephone line 1 (step 28). The CNG signal detection circuit 9 has 0.
When a signal of 1100 Hz ± 38 Hz for 5 seconds or more is input, the CNG signal detection circuit 9 detects this and the control means 1
The CNG signal detection signal is output to 0. When this signal is input, the control means 10 activates the timer 11 (step 29), and the timer 11 counts 3.5 seconds (step 30). When the CNG signal detection signal is input from the CNG signal detection circuit 9 at the time when this counting is finished (step 31), the control means 10 determines that the calling side is the facsimile machine, and the facsimile communication circuit 6 causes the telephone line 1 to operate. The switching circuit 8 is switched to the facsimile communication circuit 6 side so as to be able to communicate with (step 32).

When the CNG signal is not detected during the OGM transmission (step 33), the same operation as in the conventional example is performed. First, the ICM recording circuit 5 is operated and the signal input from the telephone line 1 is a voice signal. In this case, the voice signal is continuously recorded as it is, and the facsimile communication is started when the CNG signal is input after the OGM transmission or when the silence continues for a certain time.

[0022]

As described above, the present invention comprises ring signal detecting means for detecting a ring signal input from a telephone line.
Interface means for closing the telephone line in response to the signal output from the ring signal detecting means, response message sending means for sending a response message after the interface means closes the telephone line, and facsimile communication input from the telephone line. A communication start signal detecting means for detecting a start signal, a facsimile communication means for performing facsimile communication, and a telephone line when the communication start signal detecting means detects the facsimile communication start signal while the response message sending means is sending a response message. Even if the OGM is being sent by the switching circuit that connects the
It is possible to switch to facsimile communication by detecting the G signal. For this reason, when the terminal on the transmission side is a facsimile, the communication is promptly switched to facsimile communication, and the waste of communication cost is reduced. Moreover, since a signal similar to the CNG signal is prevented from being recorded when the OGM is recorded, the OGM issued by the user does not cause the operator to malfunction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus with a voice response function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the recording operation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the response operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a waveform of the CNG signal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional facsimile apparatus with a voice response function.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the same operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Telephone Line 2 Interface Circuit 3 Ring Signal Detection Circuit 4 OGM Transmission Circuit 5 ICM Recording Circuit 6 Facsimile Communication Circuit 7 Voice Signal Detection Circuit 8, 14 Switching Circuit 9 CNG Signal Detection Circuit 10 Control Means 11 Timer 12 OGM Recording Instruction Switch 13 Microphone 15 display means 16 alarm means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A ring signal detecting means for detecting a ring signal inputted from a telephone line, an interface means for closing the telephone line in response to an output of the ring signal detecting means, and the interface means for the telephone. Response message sending means for sending a response message to the telephone line after the line is closed, and facsimile communication start signal detection for detecting a facsimile communication start signal input from the telephone line according to the operation of the response message sending means. Means, facsimile communication means for performing facsimile communication, and switching means for operating the facsimile communication means according to the output of the response message sending means and the output of the facsimile communication start signal detecting means. Facsimile machine with voice response function. 2. The switching means operates the facsimile communication means when the communication start signal transmission means detects a facsimile communication start signal while the response message transmission means is transmitting a response message. A facsimile machine with a voice response function according to item 1. 3. Storage means for storing a voice message, and detection means for detecting whether or not the voice message contains a signal component similar to a facsimile communication start signal when the voice message is input to the storage means. And a notification unit for issuing a warning according to the output of the detection unit. 4. Storage means for storing a voice message, and detection means for detecting whether or not the voice message contains a signal component similar to a facsimile communication start signal when the voice message is input to the storage means. And a control unit that controls the operation of the storage unit according to the output of the detection unit. 5. Storage means for storing a voice message, and detection means for detecting whether or not the voice message includes a signal component similar to a facsimile communication start signal when the voice message is input to the storage means. The facsimile apparatus with a voice response function according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit that issues a warning according to the output of the detection unit. 6. Storage means for storing a voice message, and detection means for detecting whether or not the voice message contains a signal component similar to a facsimile communication start signal when the voice message is input to the storage means. The facsimile apparatus with a voice response function according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that controls the operation of the storage unit according to the output of the detection unit.